How to save money this Christmas
Christmas is a time for giving. Unfortunately for a lot of people it is also a time where that giving can result in considerable debt and a difficult January. However saving money doesn’t necessarily have to mean you have to become Scrooge- below are some tips to help you save money this Christmas while at the same time still enjoying the festive season!
Who do you get presents for?
Now this is going to sound brutal but who do you really need to get presents for? Immediate family is important but with friends you should stick to a few close ones or alternatively arrange to go out for a drink together rather than waste money on novelties that will only get thrown away later on. It is also worth considering giving joint presents or pooling resources with other family members.
Set the limit on Secret Santa
Secret Santa is a good way to restrict gift giving with friends/work mates. However have an agreed limit and stick to it- £5 is more than enough for a good DVD, a reasonable bottle of wine (look out for supermarket offers- you’d be surprised where you can get good stuff) or the chocolates you know they like!
Use vouchers
If you’ve been building up points, loyalty card stickers and so forth now is the time to use them- also check online to see if there are any vouchers available for gifts that you want to get as this could save significant amounts of money while at the same time still getting people what they want.
Don’t forget charity shops
There was a time when charity shops were looked on with disdain. Not any more- it is possible to get some really good stuff for not that much money. Good examples of inexpensive but great looking gifts include books, glassware and artwork.
Cut costs by switching down
Do your guests really care if your mince pies are the exclusive celebrity chef range? It is also worth noting that cheaper in a lot of cases isn’t necessarily worse- a quick check on reviews on non-brand goods will help you find nice stuff that’s cheaper than the name brands!
Limit the party food
One of the big problems with Christmas is people go overboard for things that the rest of the year don’t even seem to exist- candied citrus peel or fancy finger food can often be thrown out by January, resulting in a lot of unnecessary waste.
Do the obvious
You may be reading this thinking “Well that’s obvious”. The sad thing is when in the middle of organising parties, buying gifts and being in a mad rush to get everything done it is easy to forget how much you are spending and often on things that ultimately don’t matter. This should be a happy time but it can also be stressful which is why we recommend looking at what is important to make sure you enjoy it as well.
In short at Larcomes Financial Services we want you to have a merry Christmas but at the same time we hope you can do so and still enjoy a happy new year!